Teapot Fini ~

At long last the teapot is done.  I mean TOTALLY done and no longer in my house.  I turned it in at guild today, and the next time I see it is when it will be displayed at Sauder Village during rug week in August.  

Thankfully DSO helped me glue the fabric to the board and we even got the lines straight!!!  The finished size is 14" x 16".  This is the back before the label was attached.  One of our guild members made labels for us, but do you think I could find mine?  I'm guessing you know the answer to that.  I was able to get another label at the meeting, glue it on and could call it done.  

That's it, blog friends.  Between trying to get some yard work done, finally buying annuals for the crocks, wheelbarrow, etc,  and getting "stuff" together for vending at a small but very nice hook in this Saturday, there hasn't been time for much else.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Blogger is Messing with Me!!!

My last post had a link to Sue's blog where my zipline video is posted.  Well . . . that link is now gone 😡  For those who could not see the video, click here and hopefully it will direct you to her blog!  I just don't understand what happened.

Our weather is finally improving.  Though still a bit chilly, it hasn't rained for a couple of days and the gardens are exploding with color.  I still haven't bought annuals yet.  SOON!

Siberian iris ~ one of my favorites

My rooster is rusting and I love him. 

I think froggy is praying I will finally get the little pond cleaned out.

Rusting lantern I purchased last year.
The hen and chicks survived the winter
and the squirrels haven't stolen them.

Isn't mother nature amazing? 
There is a tiny rust pinhole and a weed is growing from it. 

Please take a moment to remember why we are celebrating Memorial Day.  To those who paid the ultimate sacrifice, we appreciate your service and thank you for allowing us to be free.  Sadly, there is a price for freedom and we must never take it for granted.

Memorial Day, originally known as Decoration Day, is for honoring and mourning the U.S. military personnel who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

God Bless America!

Lauren

Zipline Video ~

 

UFO ~

Proud Lion, a pattern by the Sampling, was started in a class in June of 2017.  It has not seen the light of day other than the time I "borrowed" some wool from it.  Can I remember what wool I borrowed?  Not really.  I figure it is about darn time I get back to it.  It is a biggie (for me) at 28" x 43 1/2".  I left the class with no real color plan other than what was started 😡.  I have gone through the wool and have figured some of it out, and even met up with Vernon Junction Sue for help!!!  I now have a pretty good idea but I know I will wing some of it as I go.

I had never hooked antigodlin style (higgly piggly) before this class and did NOT enjoy doing it, but the teacher was insistent that is what I MUST do.  To be honest, I felt a little bullied.  I am now more comfortable hooking in that style but still don't enjoy doing it . . . though I love the look.

{{Sue . . . now I do see the purple in the one flower though I believe it is much more subtle in person.  That's my story and I'm sticking to it since I am NOT a purple person!!!}}

Hopefully this will be my project until my Wooly Horse class with Jenny Smallridge in June.  Jenny is saying that the small mat should be done on the second day of class.  Fingers crossed it will be.  Then I will have until my next class in July to work on Proud Lion . . . unless I get sidetracked 😁

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs 😊

Lauren

374 ~

That's how many days for accomplishing my goal of 10k steps a day.  Last time when I was approaching a year, I fell and broke my leg 😢.  This time my excuse is that we spent about 14 hours travelling home from Branson and there was just no way to get my steps in.  Bummer. 

I was thankful DSO did all the driving so I could get "stuff" done.  I caught up on several magazines, covered ten magnets with wool (a real pain to do, but these strong magnets are used on my scissor minders and if one of the magnets is not covered, the are nearly impossible to separate!) . . .

and got all the hooking done on Scaredy Cat.  Since returning home I got him bound (he is only 9" x 12.25") and now he just needs a label.  One more thing I can cross off my list.

I really must go do some yard work.  I keep finding excuses not to do it!!!

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Branson Highlights (and a Lowlight!) ~

But first . . . you still have plenty of time to send a 90th birthday card to my friend's hubby.  Hookers and non-hookers!!!  Read about it here.  Thanks to those who have already sent a card.  My friend says they are arriving 💖

Titanic Museum ~

Very interesting.  Many original items from survivors and from underwater recovery.  So sad that most of the lifeboats were not even half filled.

An exact replica of the grand staircase.  The original floor was tiled with linoleum.  At that time it was so new it was more expensive than marble!

Ziplining ~

My second time ziplining through the treetops.  I LOVE IT!!!  There were eight lines, the longest being 1/4 of a mile 150' above the ground.

In our group, there were two young boys with their dad.  The younger of the two was turning four next week and his brother was turning seven this summer.  These little guys had absolutely NO FEAR.  It was so cute to watch them.  On the shorter lines, they went all by themselves.  On the longer ones, they went with an instructor.

DSO all suited up!  (Not the greatest picture but wanted to show our gear.)

Darn!  I can't figure out how to post the video!!!  Just believe me when I say that it is just great fun and really not scary . . . and we were by far the oldest in the group 😁

Love this pic with Uncle Sam.

Butterfly Palace ~

I had no idea what to expect, but WOW!!!  It was a wonderful experience.

Check out the butterfly wings.  Can you believe it?

The butterfly room was absolutely one of the coolest things I have seen.  There are between 1,000 and 1,500 butterflies flitting about.  Upon entering you take a flower with nectar in a little vial.  

They are not the least bit shy.

I just have to share the beauty.

These two guys were a little bit raggedy but their colors were outstanding.

After watching the video about the monarch butterfly and learning of the journey they take, it was sad to hear that these butterfly only live about two days to two weeks.

Shows ~

Branson is noted for their shows, but on a Monday before tourist season has really started, the pickings were pretty slim.  We wanted a late afternoon show since we were leaving early the next morning.  Sadly, nothing interested us, so no show was seen.

Branson Scenic Railway ~

The lowlight of the trip!  It was a two hour train ride through the countryside, but all we saw were trees, trees, and more trees!  I guess everything can't be great.

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Reminds Me of a John Denver Song ~

We got home late last evening from our whirlwind trip.  I must say it was wonderful to sleep in my own bed last night!  It's good to get away and even better to get "Back Home Again".

Meramec Caverns was not on our agenda, but upon seeing billboards on our way to Branson, MO, decided to swing on over to check them out.  We are so glad we did.

The Caverns are privately owned.  Upon entering, there was a huge room that was set up with tables covered in white linen tablecloths and fine china.  There was a wedding reception that evening for the owner's grandchild.  How cool is that?  Well, actually quite cool.  It is a constant 60* inside.  I doubt there were too many backless dresses or open toed shoes.  BBBBRRRRRRR!

To get to the "wine room" you had to climb a steep staircase and our guide said many people "whine" about the climb.

Pictures just don't do the formations justice!  The room is aptly named because of the grapelike formations

Beautiful reflections.

For us Catholics, this formation looks like the Blessed Virgin Mary.

At the end of the tour there is a light show dedicated to those who have served or are currently serving in our armed forces or as police officers, firefighters and emergency medical technicians.  To these men and women, they extend their gratitude and remembrance for their brave sacrifices.  It is set to the singing of God Bless America, and let me tell you, it brought me to tears.

Have you heard of Buc-ee's?  Until my son told me about it a year or so ago, I had not.  Well . . . after leaving the caverns, we started seeing many Buc-ee's billboards, so we had to stop.  To say we were totally gobsmacked is an understatement.  This place is HUGE!!!  128 gas pumps (and 18 wheelers are NOT allowed), and a store that sold everything but the kitchen sink.  And the food?  Unbelievably good.  

Thanks so much for stopping by.
Pug hugs 😊
Lauren